Williams was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on December 24, 1961. He began his acting career at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in The Taming of the Shrew. He also had a role in Richard III. Williams then continued with performances on- and off-Broadway and toured nationally in theatrical productions, including Guys and Dolls, Les Misérables, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Ragtime, and Show Boat. Later pursuing the mainstream acting career, he acquired film credits that included Flicka, Jarhead, Collateral, Ali, and Erin Brockovich. Additionally, Williams also appeared on television in series such as Charmed, Over There, Six Feet Under, 24, NYPD Blue, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Minds, Monk, and The Bernie Mac Show. From 2005 to 2009, he became well-known for his role as Brad Bellick, leader of the correctional officers at Fox River State Penitentiary in the TV serial drama Prison Break.